They call it a ‘fee’, but when used in this context, it’s just another tax – pure and simple.
As if Bostonians are not already paying through the nose trying to make ends meet living in this city, while struggling to support their families, with the never ending, clever and oh so creative ways conjured up to take more money out of the pockets of residents. We now have a Boston City Councilor, Michelle Wu, who wants to seriously look into charging people for parking their cars on the streets that they already pay taxes to maintain. Yes, some now want to charge a ‘fee’ for those resident parking permits. Will enough ever be enough?
Experience tells us the answer to that question is probably no. Seeing this latest proposal to treat already beleaguered taxpayers like they are ATM machines reminds many of the words in an old Beatle’s song called ‘Tax Man’. The chorus goes like this: If you drive a car I’ll tax the street, if you try to sit, I’ll tax the seat. If you get too cold, I’ll tax the heat, if you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet”. We think some in policy making positions in this city and across the state know those words well and believe it’s their purpose in life to follow them faithfully.
